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Albert Camus

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.

Monday, February 17, 2020

more than enough to worry about - Ancestral Whispers (The Peak District Mysteries#9) by Jo A Hiestand

"There are enough twists and turns and hints in this story that I’m sure you’ll “think” you can figure out the “who-dun-it” part before the end. But I bet not. [...] I do not think there would be any problem reading it as a stand-alone. The only problem I can see would be in not reading it. Make sure you do so." Kathy, Goodreads

Description:

Published: January 10th, 2020
(standalone)

Each year the residents of Nether Haddon celebrate the village’s founding in the time-honored way with games, music, and performances by their sword dancers. But something new is added to the fancy footwork this year: a team member dies ... murdered. Fear, jealousy and suspicion quickly engulf the group, emotions as tightly interlocked as the five swords used in the dance: a series of turns jumps and clogging steps intricate as Celtic knots. Was the victim the intended target, or should it have been someone else? In the course of the CID investigation, a mysterious 17th-century puzzle is discovered. Does it hold a clue to the murder? 

Detective Brenna Taylor and her colleagues have more than enough to worry about. But unbeknownst to her, career criminal King Roper has escaped from prison where he was serving time for murder. Now free and eager to settle the score for his capture, Roper tracks down Brenna’s whereabouts, ready for revenge... 

EXCERPT 

A worse day for dancing couldn’t exist if we’d planned it. Not for the first time that day Michael Green mopped his forehead and glanced at the sky. Bright blue and cloudless, with a sun the size of a grapefruit. He would’ve bet anybody nearly anything that the sun funneled its heat onto the wood stage. Deliberately, if anyone wanted his opinion. Like that old Aesop fable “The North Wind and the Sun.” Except there was no traveler in the village. Just them—the group of dancers—the fete-goers and the audience. Daft, all of us. Out in heat hot enough to kill. 

He blotted his hand against his forehead, cursing the weather. Heat rose as though from an oven, and he wondered if the group could move their performance to the grove of trees, where it was shady and cooler. 

He took a step toward the group’s leader to suggest it but a scream stopped him. Turning, he stared openmouthed, then lent his shout to the screams that were already echoing down the village lanes and slamming against buildings. It fell quiet only when the two men fell. 

A strained stillness born of disbelief and fear settled on the area and froze the onlookers in their tracks. Alastair Marshall lay at the base of an electric light pole, his hand outstretched, his face contorted. His cousin, Simon Roe, lay twenty feet away, his eyes closed as if in sleep. He’d evidently escaped Alastair’s fate by the grace of God and an injured ankle. For fate is what it appeared to be. Only Alastair had touched the light switch. 

After what seemed like eons, some of the onlookers ran to disengage Alastair from the electric current coursing through his body; some people yelled for water or beer and tried to revive Simon, who clutched his chest on sitting up and began yelling for his cousin. Some ran to get the vicar, first aid supplies, and ice. Some stood rooted to the spot, immobile with distress. Some slowly sank to the ground or clung to others, their legs unable to hold them just as their minds were unable to understand. One person thought to ring up the police… 


About the author: 
A month-long trip to England during her college years introduced Jo to the joys of Things British. Since then, she has been lured back nearly a dozen times and lived there during her professional folksinging stint. 

Jo’s insistence for accuracy--from police methods and location layout to the general “feel” of the area--has driven her innumerable times to Derbyshire for research. These explorations and conferences with police friends provide the details filling both her Peak District mysteries and the McLaren mystery series. 

In 1999 Jo returned to Webster University to major in English. She graduated in 2001 with a BA degree and departmental honors. 

Her McLaren mystery, BLACK MOON, received the ‘N.N. Light Best Mystery Book’ award for 2019. 

Jo lives with her cat, Tennyson, and way too many kilts in the St. Louis-area. 


Author's Giveaway
the more you comment, the better your chances of winning

50 comments:

Goddess Fish Promotions said...

Thanks for hosting!

James Robert said...

When you have many readers in your family, it's always great to hear about a  book you think they will enjoy. Thanks for sharing!

Bernie Wallace said...

How do you come up for the names of the characters in your book?

Bridgett Wilbur said...

Great cover.

Jo said...

Thank you for hosting this stop in my tour -- I appreciate it!

Jo said...

Hi, Birdgett...wow, thanks for the compliment! Yes, I like the cover. It conveys (at least to me) a mysterious and scary moment: what's going on in that tower?

Jo said...

Bernie, thanks for stopping by. I create the characters first by giving them personalities and jobs. Then I give them names I think "goes with" them. My favorite character name, so far, was a guy in "An Unfolding Trap." His name is Lanny Clack. Just seemed to fit him...kind of bumbling and slow witted yet good natured. Anyway, that's how I do it. There can be other methods of christening characters, but I go with personality first.

Bea LaRocca said...

I love the book cover and the synopsis and excerpt are intriguing. This sounds like a must read for me Thank you for sharing the book and author details

Jo said...

James, I appreciate you stopping by. Hope one of your family members likes the book, if he/she chooses to read it. Thanks.

Jo said...

Just wondering...has anyone been to Haddon Hall in Derbyshire? That's where a good portion of this book takes place, the Hall and the surrounding area.

Jo said...

Bea, thank you for commenting. Glad you like the cover...it's kind of foreboding, I think: what's going to happen? I'm pleased you like the synopsis and the excerpt. I find excerpts hard to choose--what's going to interest someone reading this and show a snippet of the story? Thanks for liking this. Good luck with the raffle drawing.

Rita Wray said...

Sounds like a great book.

Jo said...

Rita, thanks so much and thanks for stopping by.

Dale Wilken said...

Sounds really great.

Jo said...

Dale, thanks for your kind words, and thanks for dropping by.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the opportunity to win! And thanks for sharing the book.

Cali W. said...

Thanks for the giveaway; I like the excerpt. :)

Julie Waldron said...

Sounds like a good book, thanks for the excerpt.

Jo said...

Gwendolyn, glad you like the cover. I do too! Good luck with the raffle drawing and thanks for stopping by.

Jo said...

Sandy, my pleasure to provide the opportunity to win! ;-) Good luck!

Jo said...

Cali, glad you like the excerpt. Thanks for the comment.

Jo said...

Julie, I appreciate your comment. Glad ou like the excerpt. Good luck in the raffle.

susan1215 said...

Sounds like a great book. I like the cover.

Jo said...

Hi, Susan. Thanks for liking the cover. I wish I could cash in on it since so many people say they like it! ;-) I appreciate your comments -- good luck!

nickieisis3 said...

Amazing cover

rosannepm said...

Thank you for hosting this giveaway and wishing well as you launch your book to a wider audience Rosanne rosans4comcast(dot) net

Jo said...

Nickieisis3 -- so glad you like the cover. I think it's pretty dramatic. Thanks for the comment.

Jo said...

Roseanne, thanks for dropping by and thanks for your well wishes. Good luck with the raffle drawing.

Kara Marks said...

This sounds really good!

Jo said...

Kara, thanks a lot for leaving your comment. I appreciate it...and good luck with the raffle drawing!

Victoria Alexander said...

Thanks for sharing!

Jo said...

Hi, Victoria. Thanks for participating and leaving a comment. Good luck to you!

Jo said...

Thanks for hosting this date in the book tour.

Sherry said...

This sounds like it will be such a good book.

Nancy P said...

Intriguing cover

Jo said...

Sherry, thanks for the comment. I appreciate it!

Jo said...

Hi, Nancy. Thanks. I also like the cover. Seems like something mysterious is going on in the tower.

abfantom said...

I like the cover. It is very well done with great graphics.

abfantom at yahoo dot com

clc408 said...

I always enjoy a good mystery. This one looks good.

Audrey Stewart said...

I have read every book in The McLaren Mysteries Book Series. I loved them!

Michele S. said...

Really like the cover.. very intriguing

Caryl Kane said...

Mysteries are my go-to genre. Ancestral Whispers sounds like a must read.

Debbie P said...

This book sounds like a very cool read.

Amy Woolard said...

What were the things that you loved about England the most?

Sherry said...

I love the cover.

Yipperbear said...

Spooky looking cover.

billwinsbig said...

My daughter would enjoy this book.

Amy Woolard said...

I love a good mystery! A book that can keep me guessing always holds my attention

SheilaBee said...

Looks like an interesting read.

billwinsbig said...

My daughter would enjoy this book.